The Cleveland Half Marathon and 5k is your chance to run through one of America's official Runner Friendly Communities: Cleveland, Tennessee!

Cleveland, TN, July 16, 2018– Cleveland, Tennessee has earned the designation of a “Runner Friendly Community” by the Road Runners Club of America. Cleveland is one of five communities in the country to receive this designation in Summer 2018, among Allentown, Pennsylvania, Carrollton, Georgia, Georgetown, Texas and Mesa, Arizona. Cleveland is only the fourth community in Tennessee to ever receive this designation.

The RRCA reviewed three primary segments:community infrastructure, community support, and local government support. The goal is for applicants to prove that their community works together to promote running as healthy exercise for residents while ensuring runners safety. Communities must have both a running specialty store (Terra Running Company) and a RRCA certified running club (Ocoee Track and Trail).

“I have been running in this town for 20 years and I have seen incredible strides in running in this community,” Bill Estes, race director of the 65 Roses 5k and Cleveland City Councilman said.

In addition to the application submitted by Terra Running Company, six letters of support from community members were included. Support letters came from Mayor Tom Rowland, Cleveland Bradley Greenway Committee Board Chair Cameron Fisher, 65 Roses 5k Director and City Councilman Bill Estes, Girls on the Run Council Director Merica Stum, Ocoee Track and Trail President Yuri Davis and Secretary/Treasurer Matt Ryerson, as well as a resolution passed by the Cleveland City Council in support of the designation.

“Running is so important to a community,” said Matt Ryerson, secretary and treasurer of Ocoee Track and Trail and president of United Way of the Ocoee Region. “There’s nothing like early morning or late evening runs to explore your community from a sense and perspective you might otherwise not see.”

The existence of runner friendly businesses and events in the community was a large factor in the application process. The success of local running events like the 65 Roses 5k at Lee University, Terra Running Company’s Cleveland Half Marathon and 5k, and the over 20 road and trail races in Cleveland help make the atmosphere in Cleveland runner friendly.

“Terra Running Company provides great local races that are community minded and community oriented that show off the best parts of our town,” said local runner Jaynese Waddell.

CLICK HERE to read the press release from the Road Runners Club of America.